Rugia

The following morning everyone was laughing about the fact that Celestia had fallen asleep on the couch and forgot the guards were waiting outside to take her back to the castle. To be honest everyone forgot they were out there. Celestia realized this when she came outside and found them asleep in the carriage. Rugia and friends waved goodbye as she left and began bidding there fair wells.

“Rugia,” asked Twilight, “how long do you think it will be till the Rucans arrive?”

“I don’t know Twilight,” Rugia replied, “Its hard to say. When they come, they come. When that time comes, I will face Resnoff in battle.”

“You will?” everyone responded simultaneously. Rugia gave them a reassuring smile and it gave the group more comfort. At least now, they had someone to fight for them.

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A full year had past since that day, and there was no sign of the Shadow Armada. Every pony in Ponyville seemed to have forgotten about them. Life went as it normally did, and Rugia had been able to take better control of his powers thanks to Fluttershy. She came up with the idea for him to spend a little time in his first transformation each day to see if it would help. Turns out she was right. Rugia had been doing this exercise for a full year and it had made him feel much better. For a full year, he hadn’t lost control. Rugia’s relationship with Twilight and the others had grown much stronger than the year before. He and Rainbow Dash had become the best of friends, and were always finding good times to hang out. Life was going very well, but then the unexpected happened. Rainbow and Fluttershy had arrived at Rugia’s house for a visit, and saw Candace come storming out of the house with a suit case and headed for Ponyville. Rainbow and Fluttershy ran into Rugia’s home to find him in the recliner chair with his head in his hands.

“Rugia,” Rainbow ran to him, “what’s going on?”

“My wife and I had our first fight.” he replied.

“How bad was it?” asked Fluttershy.

“Nothing short of some screaming and the exchange of very hurtful words.” Rugia said.

“How long have you two been together?” asked Rainbow.

“One hundred sixty-one years.” Rugia sat up in the chair revealing his depression.

“How…” Rainbow stopped short.

“Candace and I are half immortal,” Rugia explained, “We can’t age, but we can still be killed. As mush as I would love to talk you two, I would rather just be alone right now.” Reluctantly, the two left Rugia to his thoughts and headed for town to spread the news to the other four. The mane six had no idea what to do, Candace had vanished, and Rugia had SCS-1 guarding the front of the house. It wasn’t going to be easy to get a word with any of them.

Several days went by, Rugia still hadn’t left his house and Candace hadn’t been heard from either.

“We have to do something girls,” Pinkie said, “Rugia and Candace’s marriage could be at stake.”

“We can’t do anything about it,” Twilight said, “we don’t even know what the fight was about. And besides, its not our business.”

“Darling,” detested Rarity, “we have to do something. Rugia is our friend, we can’t just sit by and do nothing. Rugia has been there for us when we were in need. He took me in when my house was destroyed and cared for me until it was rebuilt. When Fluttershy broke her leg from that fall she had last year, Rugia stayed at her house until she was able fend for herself again.”

“It’s true,” said Fluttershy, “he did take care of me for several months. He also took care of the animals for me.”

“He also took care of Spike and me when we both got sick at the same time.” Twilight said, “But what can we do?”

“We could try to just throw Rugia a party,” Pinkie suggested, “You know, just to show our appreciation to him for being a good friend.”

“That’s a good idea Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash said, “I’ll get Rugia while you guys get the party together.”

“Be careful Rainbow,” Apple Jack said, “SCS-1 has been guarding the outside of the house. He may not let you inside.”

“Oh yeah,” Rainbow stopped in her tracks, “I forgot about him. I think he’s still aggressive towards me. I’m still going to try anyway, for Rugia.” Rainbow Dash shot into the air like a rocket and headed for Rugia’s house. The others looked at one another with worry. The last time they heard about SCS-1, Apple Jack was nearly killed by him. Would SCS-1 kill Rainbow, or would he listen to her?

________________________________________________________________________

Rainbow Dash landed a few yards away from Rugia’s house and looked around to see if SCS-1 was around. The sentry was no where to be seen, but Rainbow didn’t want to take a chance on being caught by surprise by him.

“Come out SCS-1,” Rainbow shouted bravely, “I know you are there!”

A few seconds past, nothing happened and Rainbow began to think SCS-1 wasn’t around. But then…

“What do you want pony.” SCS-1 demanded as he uncloaked in front of her. Rainbow choked at the sight of him. The last time she saw this robot was when he had her pinned to the bed and threatening her life.

“I-I… I…”

“Speak now.” SCS-1 commanded in frustration.

Rainbow stood up straight and spoke firmly, “I’m here to see Rugia. We are throwing him a party to appreciate the friendship he has given us.”

“NO!” came SCS-1’s angry reply.

“But why?” Rainbow asked.

“Why?” SCS-1 repeated, “One; my creator wants no visitors. Two; I hate you.”

“Why are you so protective of him?” Rainbow asked. As soon as she asked this, SCS-2 through 5 uncloaked and surrounded Rainbow. “Sorry I asked…”

“You would be protective of him too if he gave you all five senses and emotions.” SCS-1 replied.

“You mean…?” Rainbow’s eye’s widened.

“That’s right,” SCS-1 said, “we are alive as much as you are.”

“So you can experience smell, touch, and taste along side sight and hearing?” Rainbow stood awestruck at what she heard. Sentries that had not just the ability to think and feel emotions, but all five senses to boot.

“What does she want One?” asked SCS-3.

“She wants to see Rugia about some party they have prepared for him.” replied SCS-1.

“Let me ask you something cyan pony.” SCS-4 stepped toward Rainbow Dash, “Will this party cheer our creator up? Will he come back a happier man than he is now?”

“That’s what we’re hoping.” Rainbow said nervously. The sentries began looking at each other as if expecting one of them say a response to Rainbow’s answer. They started making gestures at one another, and Rainbow realized that the sentries were communicating telepathically to one another.

“Very well,” SCS-1 finally said, “we will permit you to see our creator. We’re getting tired of him moping around the house anyway.”

“Thank you,” Rainbow Dash said walking to the door, “we’ll do our best to cheer him up.”

“On the contrary,” said SCS-5, “we are the ones who should be thanking you.”

“Rainbow Dash,” came the voice of SCS-1, “I apologize for trying to kill your friend. I was scared, and thought you and her were trying to steal from the lab.” Rainbow Dash always thought that SCS-1 attacked out of aggression. But he actually was afraid of Apple Jack and herself. Rainbow watched SCS-1 and his brothers cloak one by one and disappear. She turned to the door and opened it. When she came into the living room, Rugia was sitting in the same recliner chair he was in the last time she saw him.

“Rugia?” asked Rainbow Dash in a soft voice.

“Hm?” Rugia slowly looked up at her, “What is it Rainbow Dash?”

“We’re throwing a party,” Rainbow said walking to her depressed friend, “to celebrate our friendship with you. The party would be nothing without you there.” She gave a big smile, hoping to get a positive reaction from Rugia. But Rugia just stood up and headed for the front door.

“Well,” he said slowly, “we don’t want to be late, so lets get going.”

Rainbow Dash followed Rugia out the door. After Rugia locked his house, Rainbow led Rugia to Sugarcube Corner where the party was being held at. Rainbow tried to start a conversation with Rugia, but he didn’t seem to be paying any attention to her. Rugia’s thoughts on his fight with his wife were still weighing him down. He had said a lot of things out of anger he didn’t mean, and now he was regretting it.

________________________________________________________________________

A lot of ponies had come to this arrangement, the group was so large that they had to move the event down into Pinkie’s basement where there was more room. Rainbow Dash and Rugia came down into the basement shortly after everyone else had arrived. Rugia didn’t say a word and just sat with his back in a corner on the far side of the room. Every pony in the room could see Rugia’s depression and wanted to do something for him. But what could they do? Pinkie Pie tried to sing him some kind of happy tune to at least get a smile out of him, but he didn’t even stir. Fluttershy tried to offer him some cake but no answer came from him. Every one of the mane six tried to cheer him up enough to get him to at least say something to them. But to their misfortune, nothing worked. The party continued to go on, but not the way anyone wanted it to. Rainbow couldn’t stand it anymore, Rugia’s depression was getting on her nerves. Rainbow Dash found twilight and asked her to come up stairs for a moment.

“Twilight I need you to do me a favor.” Rainbow said.

“What is it Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked.

“I need you to make me like Candace.” Rainbow said.

“What?” Twilight looked shocked at Rainbows request.

“I need you make my body ant… ath…”

“Anthropomorphic?” asked Twilight.

“Yes!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Why?” asked Twilight.

“I want to dance with Rugia.” Rainbow said, “Do you know any spells that would work?”

“Well,” Twilight paused, “I know one… but its complicated. I don’t even know if I could perform it correctly.”

“You have to at least try Twilight.” Rainbow pleaded.

“Alright,” Twilight said, “I’ll try. If it works, you will have a body like Candace’s. However, you will only get one hour before the spell wares off. Before we begin, you might want to retrieve your dress for the gala.” Rainbow ran out of Sugarcube Corner as quickly as she could and took flight for her home.

Ten minutes later Rainbow Dash came back into Sugarcube Corner warring her gala dress and Twilight readied herself for the task at hand.

“Ok,” Twilight asked, “are you ready?

“Lay it on me.” Rainbow said. Twilights horn began to glow brightly and she touched it to Rainbow’s forehead.

Downstairs, Rugia was still sitting in the same corner. It was hard for his friends and the other ponies to enjoy the party with him like he was. Rugia was still thinking about what he had said to his wife when the music suddenly stopped and the room fell silent. Rugia didn’t pay any attention to what was happening. He heard the sound of a pair of hooves slowly coming closer to him. The voice was all too familiar to him.

“You know the party would be more fun for you if you would participate.” came the voice of Rainbow Dash. Rugia looked up and jumped in surprise to see an anthropomorphic Rainbow Dash. “I guess I look a little weird, don’t I?”

“Not at all.” Rugia said calmly standing up, “How did you get this way?”

“You can thank Twilight for this.” Rainbow said, “It feels strange to stand up right like this. I’m not used to having hands either. I almost fell down the stairs when I came down here.”

Rugia chuckled and asked, “So why did have Twilight do this?”

“I wanted to dance with you.” Rainbow replied.

This too surprised Rugia, “You’re not usually the sentimental type Rainbow,” he said, “what’s gotten into you?”

“I couldn’t stand to see you so depressed.” she said, “I don’t like the depressed you, I prefer the pain in butt that insults my mane and calls me crashie when I smack into a tree or something. So are you going to dance with me or not?”

Rugia’s spirits lifted slightly, it made him feel good to know that Rainbow Dash cared about him enough to do anything to brighten his day. Rugia smiled and took Rainbow’s hand and they walked out to the center of the room. Pinkie Pie put a slow song on the record player and the two friends waltzed around the room. Beside the change in her body structure, Rainbow Dash’s friends couldn’t believe this was the same Rainbow Dash that was rowdy and bullheaded.

“I have never seen Rainbow Dash so lady-like.” Rarity said watching Rugia and Rainbow dance around the room.

Rugia couldn’t help but keep smiling at his friend. Rainbow Dash would smile back and would glance around at the other ponies to see their expressions.

“You look beautiful Rainbow.” Rugia said.

Normally when someone complimented Rainbow Dash she would get excited and would start bragging about herself. But this time was different, she was at a loss of words and couldn’t come up with any response.

“Do you really mean that?” she asked blushing.

“You’ve always been beautiful.” Rugia replied and then whispered in her ear. “If you ask me, you without a doubt out class Rarity. Don’t tell her I said that.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t say a word the rest of the time they danced. The complement Rugia gave her made her feel so happy. No one had ever said anything like that to her. At the end of the song, Rugia embraced Rainbow Dash in a hug.

“Thank you Rainbow,” Rugia said, “you are a wonderful friend. I think tomorrow I will go to Canterlot and find Candace. I’ll set things right with her.”

________________________________________________________________________

Later after the party was over and Rainbow had returned to being a regular pony, everyone departed for home. After waving goodbye to a much happier Rugia, Rainbow Dash was confronted by her friends.

“That was very sweet of you Rainbow Dash.” Rarity said.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a crush on him would ya, Dash?” Apple Jack grinned.

“I don’t have a crush on him AJ!” Rainbow replied angrily at Apple Jack, “He’s married.”

“Sure ya don’t.” Apple Jack said sarcastically.

“I just wanted to help Rugia feel better.” Rainbow said, “He was there for me when you were in the hospital last year AJ, so I wanted to be there for him.”

“And that was very kind Rainbow Dash.” Rarity said and then turned to Apple Jack, “At least someone is capable of such kindness.” Apple Jack rolled her eyes and walked up to Rainbow Dash.

“I’m jus’ kidn’ ya Rainbow,” AJ said putting a foreleg around Rainbow Dash, “He looked a lot happier when he left.”

“I just hope Candace will forgive Rugia,” Rainbow said glumly.

“You needn’t worry about that darling,” Rarity reassured Rainbow, “Candace told me that she always forgives Rugia, no matter what.”

________________________________________________________________________

The next morning Rugia hopped into his car and drove off to Canterlot to find his wife. His friends waved goodbye to him as he disappeared over the horizon for Canterlot. Rugia was determined to make things right between him and Candace, his relationship with her was the most important thing in his life. Rugia drove up the mountain path, careful not to hit any pedestrians on his way up. He came through the gates of Canterlot and drove the streets, and fortunately found Candace with Celestia and Luna. Rugia’s car came to a screeching halt in front of them and he jumped out of his vehicle.

“Candace!” Rugia exclaimed running to his wife and embracing her, “I love you so much sweet-heart. I am so sorry for the things I had said to you.”

“I love you too Rugia,” Candace replied, “I’m sorry too.”

“Let’s go home,” Rugia said, “and we can go on another honey-moon to some tropical island.”

“I love that idea Rugia.” Candace said cuddling her husband.

“Lets ge-” Rugia stopped, his eyes widened and he turned to his right releasing his wife.

“What is it Rugia?” Candace asked.

“Its them!” Rugia exclaimed, “They’re here!”

“What?” asked a confused Celestia, “Who is here.”

“The Shadow Armada!” Rugia shouted.

“How right you are.” said a voice as three Rucans landed before them in the street.

All three Rucans were warring Shadow Armada uniforms. These Rucans were different from the three Rugia encountered the previous year. One Rucan was a couple feet shorter than Rugia but looked like he had been lifting too many weights, and had short scraggly hair. The Rucan in the center was thin and nearly as tall as Rugia, his hair was long and smooth like he had just came out of a beauty pageant. The Rucan on the far right was short and riddled with scars and had short spiky hair. All three were smiling devilishly at they’re prey.

“Ok what’s your story shorty?” Rugia said to the short Rucan, “You must be the short one with the ugly face.”

“Hey!” shouted the short Rucan.

“Take it easy Corx,” said the tall Rucan, “he’s just speaking his mind before we kill him.”

“Is it safe for Rugia to be insulting enemies as powerful as he claims?” asked Luna.

“He only insults the enemies he can beat without a struggle.” Candace replied.

Rugia looked at the Rucan in the center and said, “You are definitely the lazy one who thinks he’s too handsome to fight and makes his comrades do all the work.”

“Its true I am the handsome one.” the center Rucan bragged.

“You make the short one look like the most handsome male in the world.” Rugia smirked.

“That’s it!” shouted the short one and he charged Rugia. Rugia huffed and simply kicked the short Rucan into the tall one and they both went into the side of a house. The muscular Rucan shot Rugia a very mean look.

“What’s the big idea insulting my friends?” demanded the muscle bound bruit.

“Let me guess Fatso,” said Rugia, “you must be the big, tough, stupid one.”

“YOU TAKE THAT BACK OR I’LL TARE YOUR HEAD OFF!” the Rucan screamed.

“Ok I take it back,” Rugia smiled politely, “your not tough, you can be beaten by a nursing Rucan.”

“Thank you,” the Rucan stood proudly, “that’s better.”

“Rugia didn’t you-?” asked Celestia.

“Wait a moment.” Rugia said. The Rucan stood there a few more moments, then finally realized what Rugia said.

“HEY!” shouted the Rucan, “THAT’S IT YOU ARE DEAD!”

The Rucan swung at Rugia but he jumped out of the way. The Rucan charged Rugia and swung at him again. He missed however and put his fist through a carriage. Rugia landed on top of the carriage and laughed.

“Look I know you have an eating disorder,” Rugia said, “but that does not mean you can take it out on this defenseless carriage.”

The Rucan pulled his arm out of the carriage and yelled, “I’LL KILL YOU!”

Rugia simply laughed and said, “I’ll feel threatened when you actually catch me.” Then leaped backwards onto the house behind him.

The muscular Rucan, now angrier than before transformed into the first form and flew up to the roof of the house Rugia was on. He then began swinging at Rugia trying to hit him but to no success. The fact Rugia was still in his base form was insulting to the Rucan, which in turn made him try to hit Rugia that more desperately. Rugia’s fist suddenly slammed into the side of the Rucan’s head sending him off the roof and into the street.

“He thinks he’s so tough,” said the Rucan getting back up and flying at Rugia again, “I’ll show him!”

FWAP!

Rugia kicked the Rucan in the head and he came crashing into the street again. The Rucan got back up and charged again.

“Ok, go for the left he won’t see it cuh-” FWAP “AAGH HE SAW IT COMING!” The Rucan came crashing into the street once again. Candace, Celestia, and Luna stared and watched the muscle bound Rucan get smacked off the roof over and over before he gave up. This time instead of flying to Rugia, he ran into the house.

“That’s it,” he said as he disappeared into the house but his voice could still be heard, “I’ll wait down here and catch him off guard.”

“Hey.” came the voice of Rugia.

“Hey.” the Rucan replied.

“What-cha doin’?”

“Oh, I’m just waiting for that jerk on the roof to come down so I can surprise him!”

“Is it his Birthday or something?”

“No, he ticked me off the roof so I’m going to pound his face in.”

“Neat.”

“Yeah, when he comes down here he won’t see me cuh-… Oh no.”

KABOOM!

The Rucan came flying out of the house, leaving a big hole in the wall. He rolled to a stop and lost consciousness, and his transformation faded. Rugia came walking out of the house and headed for his wife and the princesses.

“All of you get down!” he shouted and shot an energy ball from his hand. It sailed over their heads and collided into a Rucan that was trying to sneak up on them. He was carried backwards into building where the ball exploded.

“You are a lot stronger than we thought.” Came a voice Rugia had not heard since the year before.

“Daxis!” Rugia said turning around to find him standing behind him a few yards away.

Rugia noticed Daxis was warring a Commander’s uniform this time instead of a soldier uniform. This could only mean that he had achieved more strength in the year that had past.

“The last time we fought you were much stronger than me,” Daxis said, “but now I have come back stronger than before. I have achieved Super Ruca 2! Lets see how you fair against someone who posses the same amount of power you do!”

Daxis screamed out and his fur became the same bright red it was before and the hair on his head stood up as usual, only it was longer, and his body would get a bolt of lightning every ten seconds. Rugia only crossed his arms and transformed into the Super Ruca transformation. His white fox tail swung side to side slowly behind him as he stared at Daxis with aggression in his eyes.

“Just look at you,” Daxis scoffed, “you make it look so easy to transform. It’s so insulting. I’ll make you pay for defeating my friends and I.”

“Are you going to tell me a story or are we going to fight.” Rugia said calmly.

“Sure,” Daxis smirked, “but are you sure you should be acting so tough around an opponent that’s stronger than you.”

Rugia smirked and said, “I don’t think you should underestimate me.”